A federal court has upheld Texas’ ban on most abortions as “non-essential” medical procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Yesterday the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed its previous decision that abortion was an essential service in the state of Texas. Last Monday the Fifth Circuit ruled that abortion was permissible in both Texas and Oklahoma and that abortion pills could be given to pregnant women.

Texas Right to Life celebrated the new decision with a tweet reading, “Fantastic News! Fifth Circuit Court just ruled again against the lower court. Now 98.5% of elective abortions are banned in Texas under the COVID response Executive Order.” 

This is the latest outcome in a battle between Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the abortion lobby since Abbott published an executive order on March 22 suspending all surgeries and medical procedures that are not “are not immediately medically necessary” in order to preserve hospital services for the ill and protective personal equipment (PPE) for key medical staff.    

“Beginning now and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on April 21, 2020, all licensed health care professionals and all licensed health care facilities shall postpone all surgeries and procedures that are not immediately medically necessary to correct a serious medical condition of, or to preserve the life of, a patient who without immediate performance of the surgery or procedure would be at risk for serious adverse medical consequences or death, as determined by the patient’s physician,” Executive Order GA 09 stipulates.

Texas Right to Life reported that Attorney General Ken Paxton clarified that the order applied to elective abortion.  

Full story at LifeSiteNews.